Accounts receivable, less allowance for discounts and doubtful accounts of $6,970 and $6,709 for 2012 and 2011, respectively Accumulated other comprehensive income Acquisitions of businesses and assets, net of cash acquired Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired Capital in excess of par value Accounts receivable, allowances for discounts and doubtful accounts CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS [Abstract] Net earnings per common share - Basic (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Basic Cash and cash equivalents CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS at beginning of year CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS at end of year Interest Increase in accounts receivable Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Receivable Increase in overdraft balances Increase in inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets Increase (Decrease) in Prepaid Expense Change in assets and liabilities: Increase in accounts payable Decrease in sundry payables and accrued expenses Commitments and Contingencies Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Text Block] Common Stock, Authorized (in shares) Common Stock, issued (in shares) Common stock - par value $2.00 per share: Authorized - 30,000,000 shares; issued 23,936,036 shares Comprehensive income Cost of sales Increase to inventory reserves Total current liabilities Liabilities, Current CURRENT LIABILITIES: Credit Facilities and Long-Term Debt Debt Disclosure [Text Block] Payments of debt issuance costs Payments of Debt Issuance Costs Decrease in deferred income taxes Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Assets, Net, Current Net earnings per common share - Diluted (in dollars per share) Earnings Per Share, Diluted Loss from sale of European distribution business Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) from Disposal of Discontinued Operation, before Income Tax Effect of exchange rate changes on cash Stock-based compensation Employee Stock Ownership Plan allocation Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Property Amortization of deferred gain on sale of buildings Gain (Loss) on Sale of Property Plant Equipment Gross profit Gross Profit CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS [Abstract] Earnings from continuing operations Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Parent Earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share) Earnings from continuing operations (in dollars per share) Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Per Basic Share Discontinued operation (in dollars per share) Discontinued operation (in dollars per share) Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Per Basic Share Other intangibles, net Goodwill Interest expense Inventories, net Total liabilities Liabilities Total liabilities and stockholders' equity Liabilities and Equity LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Notes payable Current portion of long-term debt Long-term debt Net cash provided by financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Net cash used in investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Net cash used in operating activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Issuance of unsecured promissory notes Net earnings Net earnings Net earnings Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Other non-operating income (expense), net Operating income Operating Income (Loss) Basis of Presentation Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements Disclosure [Text Block] Other accrued liabilities Net changes in other assets and liabilities Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net Unrecognized loss Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Unamortized Gain (Loss) Arising During Period, before Tax Foreign currency translation adjustments Sundry payables and accrued expenses Dividends paid Payments of Dividends, Common Stock Employee Benefits Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits Disclosure [Text Block] Issuance of common stock Divestiture of European distribution business Divestiture of joint ventures Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment Proceeds from exercise of employee stock options Property, plant and equipment, net Increase to allowance for doubtful accounts Capital expenditures Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Sale of Receivables Loans, Notes, Trade and Other Receivables Disclosure [Text Block] Principal payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations Repayments of Long-term Debt, Long-term Capital Lease Obligations, and Capital Securities Purchase of treasury stock Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock Restructuring and Integration Costs Restructuring and Related Activities Disclosure [Text Block] Restructuring and integration expenses Retained earnings Net sales Inventories, net Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Industry Segments Segment Reporting Disclosure [Text Block] Selling, general and administrative expenses Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Significant Accounting Policies [Text Block] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS [Abstract] CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME [Abstract] Adjustment to costs related to issuance of common stock Payments of Stock Issuance Costs Stockholders' equity: Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Excess tax benefits related to the exercise of employee stock grants Income taxes Total current assets Assets, Current CURRENT ASSETS: Treasury Stock [Member] Average number of common shares and dilutive common shares (in shares) Average number of common shares (in shares) Common Stock [Member] Total assets Assets Accrued asbestos liabilities Dividends declared per share (in dollars per share) Deferred incomes taxes Stock-Based Compensation Plans Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Text Block] Statement [Table] ASSETS Statement [Line Items] Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Disclosures [Text Block] Net cash received from the sale of land and buildings Prior service benefit Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net Prior Service Cost (Credit) Arising During Period, before Tax Treasury stock - at cost 909,305 shares and 1,116,155 shares in 2012 and 2011, respectively Treasury Stock, Value Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward] Other assets Net earnings per common share - Basic: Net earnings per common share - Diluted: Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Earnings from continuing operations before taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Equity Method Investments, Income Taxes, Extraordinary Items, Noncontrolling Interest Common Stock - par value (in dollars per share) Treasury stock - at cost (in shares) Total stockholders' equity BALANCE BALANCE Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Provision for income taxes Other income , net CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME [Abstract] Statement Equity Components [Axis] Capital In Excess of Par Value [Member] Retained Earnings [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member] Equity Component [Domain] Decrease in unrecognized tax benefit Earnings Per Share Earnings Per Share [Text Block] Loss on discontinued operations, net of tax Loss from discontinued operations, net of income taxes Depreciation and amortization Commitments and contingencies Cash dividends paid Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Accounts payable Payroll and commissions Income tax related to pension and postretirement plans Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax: Total other comprehensive income, net of tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Pension and post retirement plans, net of tax Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent Pension and postretirement plans: Accrued postretirement benefits Stock-based compensation and related tax benefits Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Share-based Compensation, Requisite Service Period Recognition Employee Stock Ownership Plan Amortization of ESOP Award Prepaid expenses and other current assets Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Sale of Receivables [Abstract] Commitments and Contingencies [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements [Abstract] Subsequent Event Subsequent Events [Text Block] Inventories, net [Abstract] Credit Facilities and Long-Term Debt [Abstract] Net borrowings under line-of-credit agreements Gain on sale of investment Gain on Sale of Investments Employee Benefits [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation Plans [Abstract] Restructuring and Integration Costs [Abstract] Stock options and related tax benefits Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised, Net of Tax Benefit (Expense) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] Industry Segments [Abstract] Subsequent Event [Abstract] Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Document Period End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Document Type Amortization of: [Abstract] Amortization of: The adjustment out of other comprehensive income for foreign currency exchange rate changes during the period, before tax. Foreign currency exchange rate changes Amount as of the balance sheet date of the aggregate sales returns arising from goods returned by customers due to defective goods or overstock. Returns and allowances are a deduction from gross revenue in arriving at net revenue. Accrued Customer Returns Accrued customer returns Amount as of the balance sheet date of obligations incurred through that date and payable for customer rebates. Rebates are a deduction from gross revenue in arriving at net revenue. Accrued Rebates Accrued rebates The gain resulting from repurchasing convertible debentures. Gain on repurchase of convertible debentures Gain on repurchase of convertible debentures This item represents the entity's proportionate share for the period of the net income (loss) of its investee (such as unconsolidated subsidiaries and joint ventures) to which the equity method of accounting is applied. This item also includes a gain from the sale of interest in the joint ventures. Equity income from and gain on the sale of joint ventures Equity income from joint ventures The increase (decrease) during the reporting period in the amount of valuation allowance recorded as of the balance sheet date. Increase Decrease in Tax Valuation Allowance Increase (decrease) in tax valuation allowance The cash inflow associated with the sale of preferred stock investment accounted for using the cost method of accounting. Proceeds from Sale of Preferred Stock Investment Proceeds from sale of preferred stock investment The cash outflow to reacquire convertible debentures which is identified as being convertible to another type of financial security. Repurchase of convertible debentures Repurchase of convertible debentures Cash paid during the year for: [Abstract] Cash paid during the year for: Document and Entity Information [Abstract]